“Nah, it’s all right. I’ll come over. I did promise Adam I would.”
“Fine.” Lena poured herself a coffee and sat down at the table, her brain in overdrive as she tried to come up with a good idea why it wouldn’t or couldn’t work. There was none.
* * *
Spencer bounded around Lena’s ankles when she walked in the door with Kyle by her side. The little dog had fallen in love with the teen and his mother. Adam watched as she leant down and scooped the little ball of fluff up into her arms, letting him lick her face.
Last night had been fantastic right up until he’d offered to walk her home. Taking her to his own bed would have been preferable but as he said, he wanted a willing partner not one who was too tired to care. He’d paid the price though with disturbed dreams and a raging erection when he woke up twisted in the sheets with his pillows on the floor.
“Good morning. Sleep well?” Cause I sure as hell didn’t.
A blush crept up and stained the curves of her cheekbones. “Yes, thanks. It was hectic last night, wasn’t it? I can’t believe we got through it as well as we did.” Lena walked over to him and he got a whiff of her shampoo. Her hair was still damp around her ears and he lifted his hand to tuck it back and realized Kyle was watching him intently. Instead Adam reached for the dog and tickled it under the chin.
“Got yourself a dedicated friend here.”
Lena laughed. “He is pretty cute, you have to admit.”
“He has his moments. Now, so far I’ve stacked most of the chairs for Pete to pick up and take back to school. The barbeques are outside waiting to be cleaned and the tables need to be stacked and ready.” He looked around, wondering if he’d forgotten anything.
“Awesome, I can’t believe you’ve done so much already. And on a Sunday morning too.” She leaned down and put the dog on the floor before straightening up. “Ah, I wonder if I could have a chat with you about something.”
Adam glanced quickly at Kyle, smiling at the wink the boy tried to give him partially hidden from his mother. “Sure. What is it?” Let me hazard a guess.
“Kyle, can you please go and finish stacking the chairs please.”
“Mum!”
She stood still, looking down at him until he scuffed his feet on the concrete and huffed off to do as she asked.
Typical teen, wants to listen in. Don’t blame him really. “Someone’s not happy. Not getting enough sleep?” Adam watched him stomp away, his shoulders drooped in frustration or annoyance.
“He’s not the only one. Listen, just let me say this up front. You can say no, okay. There’s no reason why you should agree or even be pressured here.” She was biting on the edge of her lip, obviously stressed about something.
“Ask away.” I’m going to say yes whatever it is.
“Okay, well I may as well just come out and ask. No point beating around the bush.”
“No point at all” But it’s nice to see I have an impact on your nerves. At least I think it is.
“Um, well, you see this morning when I got up, it’s like this…” She twisted her fingers together and Adam had to force himself not to grab her hands and kiss the uncertainty out of her.
Say it already. I don’t bite.
“I want to open a restaurant.” Her eyes went wide and she stood shocked once the words were out.
Yes! “Okay. And?” He tilted his head waiting for more. You have to ask me.
“I want to open it here. In the dairy.” She licked her lips. “That’s if you don’t mind, that is.”
“Why would I mind?” He was enjoying this way too much. Kyle had stopped stacking chairs and was leaning against a table listening to everything they said.
“Because, I mean it’s just that this is your property and you might have ideas for it down the track.”
“Nope.”
“Nope?” Her nervousness was now turning to excitement and he loved the gleam settling in her eyes.
“Nothing planned, not now, not ever. I don’t need it, Lena. You do. Easy, it’s yours.”
Kyle whooped and came running toward them. He flew into his stunned mother’s arms and cheered. “See, told you. Didn’t I?”
“But I don’t know if we can afford it yet. Slow down, Kyle, just for a moment.” She looked over his head at Adam. “How much do you want for a lease?”
“Hmm, not really sure if it’s worth much at all to be quite honest. You’d have to do a bit of work on the place to get it up to scratch I’m thinking.” But I’ll help out anyway. He looked around, pretending he hadn’t already figure it all out. He knew the plumbing was all here for what she would need. Electricity was in as well as the cold room which worked a treat. Lena would need to put in permanent ovens and sinks according to council regulations and a bathroom.
All of these things would cost money, some of it he was prepared to pay for, like the bathroom, as it was his building, but the kitchen items would be on her. “I’ll have to think on it for a bit. Of course I’d like to run it past the council as well and see what they say before we work out the finances and draw up a lease.” He watched the emotions running through her eyes. Did she know the tiny sparkles of brown darkened when she was anxious?
“Of course. We need to be practical and do things by the book. I can’t offer you much because it’s not there, bottom line, but if you’re willing to look at a reasonable lease, I could work with that.”
I’ll work with whatever you put forward. “I’m pleased you’re thinking of it. You were so happy last night cooking. It would be a shame
